Iran says the case of American journalist Roxana Saberi, imprisoned in Tehran forspying, will get a fair review on appeal while international calls for her release aregrowing on World Press Freedom Day.

Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki (right) and his Japanese counterpart Hirofumi Nakasone arrive to their joint news conference in Tehran, 02 May 2009Iran's ForeignMinister Manouchehr Mottaki told his visiting Japanese counterpartSaturday that Saberi's appeal will be "reviewed justlyand humanely."

Japan's Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasoneraised the issue in Tehran because Saberi's mother is Japanese. Herfather is Iranian.

Journalist Saberi was convicted by an Iraniancourt on charges of spying and sentenced to eight years in prison. Shehas been on a hunger strike since April 21.

Saberi's fatherReza and his wife Akiko are also in Tehran to try to win theirdaughter's release. Reza Saberi says he is grateful for all thesupport being shown worldwide for his daughter.

"Weare very thankful for their support. I talked to my daughter,yesterday, and she said that while she did not want other people to goon hunger strike because of her, she appreciates their support verymuch," Saberi said.

He said he is touched byall the sympathy being expressed, globally, for his daughter, addingthat he thinks her ordeal will end soon.Members of media watchdog group Reporters Without Borders demonstrate at the Iranian Embassy in Paris to call for the liberation of three journalists including reporter Roxana Saberi, 03 May 2009

"Ithink they are doing a lot and we are very grateful for their support. We are optimistic that this problem will be solved in nearfuture," said Saberi.

Lucie Morillon of ReportersWithout Borders in Washington says members of the group are taking upSaberi's cause by going on a hunger strike.

"Weare very concerned about her health and we want her to know that otherpeople have taken up her hunger strike and that she does not have tocontinue it. She is weak and we are here to let her know she canstop. Other people can do it for her, abroad," said Morillon.

She says journalists around the world should let Iran know they arecommitting an injustice and accomplishing nothing by detaining aninnocent person.

"Today is WorldPress Freedom Day. It is a day where we celebrate the right to beinformed, where we pay tribute to those courageous reporters who aretaking risks to get information. The Iranian authorities are havinghere the perfect opportunity to do a gesture of goodwill and let hergo," Morillon said. "She has done nothing wrong. They know it very well . These aretrumped-up charges being held against her. They should let her go. Itis not going to bring them anything to have someone like Roxanaspending time in jail."

Journalists gathered Sunday in front of U.N. headquarters in New YorkCity to begin their hunger strike and conducted a vigil in support ofSaberi and two U.S. journalists being held by North Korea for allegedlyspying.

International human-rights groups are also criticizingIran for the execution Friday of a young woman who was convicted ofmurder when she was a minor. Her lawyer said authorities did notfollow Iranian law in executing Delara Darabi.

AmnestyInternational says it is outraged by the hanging. It says Iranexecutes more juvenile offenders than any other nation - eight lastyear and 42 since 1990. The U.N. Convention on the Rights of theChild, which Iran has signed, bans capital punishment for offenders whocommitted crimes before their 18th birthday.